Breaking news

Govt set to extend regional industry link

Mon 18 Jan 2010, 12:00 PM AEDT

A Victorian Government pilot program helping regional small and medium businesses is to be extended statewide.

The program connects 3,000 businesses to major infrastructure projects such as the Goldfields Superpipe and the Northern Victorian Irrigation Renewal Project, securing $15 million in contracts and generating 250 jobs.

The Minister for Regional Development, Jacinta Allan, says $150,000 will be spent extending the regional industry link to all 79 councils across Victoria.

"This program is about making sure that small and medium-size businesses in local communities, where there is a major government infrastructure project that's been funded, that those businesses are given every opportunity to be able to be successful in providing goods and services for that contract," Ms Allan said.